DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics of the Enigmatic Wasp Family Evaniidae

斑小蜂（膜翅目：斑小蜂科）是一种颜色鲜艳、采集频率高、易识别的蟑螂卵寄生物，但却一直被系统学家和进化生态学家所忽视。目前的分类方法陈旧、不完善，是影响今后研究的主要障碍。这个项目的目的是彻底检查evaniid分类学，调查家庭内部以及它与其他主要膜翅目群体之间的系统发育关系，并利用这种关系来研究进化背景下的几种现象。在第一部分中，将根据对已经收集的大量材料的检查，以及在对几个主要博物馆的模式标本进行检查后用于编制世界物种目录的新分类，对黑蚊属进行修订。第二部分将利用5个基因（16S， COI, 28S， LW Rh和1个新基因）的DNA序列数据以及形态学特征来估计属间的系统发育关系。在第三部分中，我们将利用已经在膜翅目中广泛使用的三个基因（16S， COI和28S）的DNA序列数据来估计叶蜂科与其他膜翅目超科（重点是叶蜂总科）之间的关系。第一部分到第三部分的结果不仅有助于提出新的和更具预测性的分类，而且有助于研究这些黄蜂的产卵行为进化及其生物地理历史。该论文项目将培养一名有前途的年轻系统学家，其工作结果也将对更大的nsf资助的关于膜翅目昆虫的组装生命之树项目产生直接影响。这一新属分类将为这一极具吸引力的类群提供进一步的分类和生态学研究。

Abstract Ensign wasps (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) are colorful, frequently collected, and recognizable parasites of cockroach eggs, yet they have been relatively neglected by systematists and evolutionary ecologists. The main obstacle to future research on evaniids is the current classification, which is outdated and inadequate. The intent of this project is to overhaul evaniid taxonomy, investigate the phylogenetic relationships within the family and between it and other major Hymenopteran groups, and to use the relationships to examine several phenomena in an evolutionary context. In part I, a revision of evaniid genera will be conducted based on examination of a large body of material already assembled, and the new classification used to structure a world catalog of species following examination of type specimens in several major museums. In part II, phylogenetic relationships among the genera will be estimated using DNA sequence data from five genes (16S, COI, 28S, LW Rh, and one new gene) along with morphological characters. In Part III, the relationships between Evaniidae and other Hymenopteran superfamilies (emphasizing Evanioidea) will be estimated using DNA sequence data from three genes that have already been widely used across Hymenoptera (16S, COI and 28S). The results of Parts I through III will but useful not only for proposing new and more predictive classifications, but also for investigating the evolution of oviposition behavior in these wasps, as well as their biogeographic history. A promising young systematist will be trained during this dissertation project, and the results of the work will also have immediate impact on the larger NSF-funded Assembling the Tree of Life project on the megadiverse insect order Hymenoptera. The new generiuc classification for Evaniidae will open up this fascinating group to further taxonomic and ecological study.